Garment-stretcher



(No Model.) G. W. WRIGHT & O. M. GRUBB.

GARMENT STRETGHER.

Patented Nov ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. WRIGHT AND CHARLES M. GRUBB, OF PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA.

GARMENT-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,385, dated November 11, 1890.

Application filed May 10, 1890. Serial No. 351,249- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE W. WRIGHT and CHARLES M. GRUBB, citizens of the United States, both residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Garment-Stretchers, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to a garment-stretcher; and it consists of separable side pieces having a slotted slide between the same, parallel toggle levers pivoted to said pieces and slide, and auxiliary toggle-levers pivoted to one set of the aforesaid levers and adjustably connected with the slide, as will be more fully hereinafter referred to.

The d evice will be found admirably adapted for stretching under garments, especially shirts, after the same have been washed and are in a shrunken condition.

Figures l and 2 represent face views of a garment-stretcher, respectively opened and closed, as embodying our invention. Fig. 3 represents a section thereof on lineoc 0c, Fig.2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the side pieces of the stretcher, and B designates a slide which is located centrally between the same, said side pieces simulating in a measure the shape of about one-half of the garment to be stretched. Connected with the slide and side pieces near the upper and lower ends of said pieces are toggles C D, which are opened and closed by the motions of said slide. The parts of said toggle-levers are recessed, as at a, to permit a close folding of one part on the other, and also form means of attachment of one part on the other without the inconvenience of lateral projection of said parts. In the slide is a longitudinallyextending slot E, through which passes a screw F, which also passes through the ad jacent ends of additional toggle-levers G as the axis thereof, the opposite ends of the latter being connected with the side pieces A, preferably by the pivots of the outer ends of the toggle-levers C. To the screw F is fitted a thumb-nut H, whereby the toggle-levers G may be clamped to the slide B, and thus rendered immovable. When the stretcher is closed, the garment may be placed over the same. The slide is then moved, whereby the several toggle-levers open, the efiect of which is to separate the side pieces and thus stretch the garment. The nut H is then operated, whereby the toggle-levers G are tightened against the slide, and thus the side pieces are prevented from closing. When the stretching is accomplished, the nut is operated in order to release the toggle-levers G, whereby the slide may be moved to close the several togglelevers,the effect of which is the return of the side pieces to their normal condition or contraction of the stretcher, so that the garment may be readily removed. It will be seen that during the operation of the stretcher the toggles G are guided by the screw F in the slot E, whereby the side pieces move true and uniformly in opposite directions, and are prevented from distortion.

The slide is provided with graduationmarks J, in order to determine the proper extent of adjustment of the device relatively to the size of the garment to be stretched. The two sets of toggle-levers G and G are employed to provide for a regular movement of the side pieces A. By the use of said levers the said side pieces are caused to move equally outward from and inward toward the slide B.

Having thus'described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The separable side pieces A, the slotted slide B between said pieces, and parallel toggle-levers C D, connected by fixed pivots to said pieces and slide, in combination with auxiliary toggle-levers G, which are pivoted to the toggle-levers G and adjustably connected with the slide by means of the setscrew F, the latter entering the slot of said slide, substantially as described.

GEORGE W. WRIGHT. CHARLES M. GRUBB.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM', WM. 0. WIEDERsHEIM. 

